Text, Egyptian scales resemble Christian crucifix

El-Amarna hoard. Egypt, 18th Dynasty, 1352-1336 B.C. This hoard contained 23 bars of gold, several bars of silver, rings, pieces of scrap and a silver figurine. The pieces were cut for specific transactions or other reasons, but not to conform to a weight standard. In making payments, it was often not the actual metal that changed hands. Rather, agreed amounts or weights of metal were the units of account that were recorded.